Wikipedia

Miss America 1923

Miss America 1923,was the thirdMiss Americapageant, held at theMillion Dollar PierinAtlantic City, New Jerseyon Friday, September 7, 1923.[1][2]

Miss America 1923
Mary Katherine Campbell, Miss America 1923
DateSeptember 7, 1923
PresentersKing Neptune (Hudson Maxim)
VenueMillion Dollar Pier,Atlantic City,New Jersey
Entrants75
Placements5
WinnerMary Katherine Campbell
N/A
←1922
1924→
Opening ceremony

At the conclusion of the event, King Neptune crowned the incumbent titleholderMary Katherine Campbellas Miss America 1923. Campbell is the only Miss America to win the title twice.[3][4]

Contestants from 75 cities, states, and titles competed at the event. The event was presented byHudson Maximdressed as King Neptune.

Overview

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Organization of pageant

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The pageant consisted of four phases of competition: evening dress (called King Neptune's Court); roller chair parade, bathing girl revue, and the final.[5]There was no talent competition at this pageant (this would not become part of the Miss America competition until 1935).[6]

Judges

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The panel of judges for the national pageant included film director,Penrhyn Stanlaws;painter,Joseph Cummings Chase;glamour artist,J. Knowles Hare;illustrator,Dean Cornwell;and painter and illustrator,Norman Rockwell.[7]

Aftermath

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Soon after the conclusion of the pageant, numerous women clubs and church groups protested against any further beauty contests and, "[urged] that they be prohibited by law," and, "[denounced them] as vulgar, undignified 'and demoralizing to young womanhood."[8][9][10]One woman was quoted saying, "'The beauty of our girls is too glorious, too sacred a thing to be put on exhibition like the freaks in a circus side show, to be commercialized and made the basis for all sorts of mercenary schemes.'"[8]

Another protest arose when Ethelda Kenvin, Miss Brooklyn, was named the 1st runner-up at the conclusion of the contest despite being married since 1921 to professional baseball playerEppie Barnes.[8]Some of her fellow contestants insisted that her placement and awards be revoked due to her marital status and violations of eligibility rules.[8]The judges' panel were made aware of this but ultimately decided to allow Kenvin to keep her prizes.[8]

Additionally, Helmar Liederman of New York filed suit against the contest directors, Armand T. Nichols andHarry L. Godshall, Sr.,for $150,000 due to their refusal to allow her to enter the national competition as "Miss Alaska" because she was a married woman, despite being authorized to compete by a newspaper inJuneau, Alaska.[8]

Results

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Placements

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Placement Contestant
Miss America 1923
"Golden Mermaid"
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up

Awards

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Evening Dress Award

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Award also referred to as "King Neptune's Court."[5]

Results Contestant
Winner
Runner-up

Roller Chair Parade

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Awards Contestant
Grand Prize
Second Prize
Third Prize
Fourth Prize
Fifth Prize

Contestants

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  • Winner
  • Runner-up
  • Non-Finalist Award Winner
City / State / Title Name Age Notes
Akron Thelma Boyd[17]
Alaska Helmar Liederman[8][18] 24 Competed inMiss America 1922pageant as Miss Alaska.[19]
Disqualified from 1923 pageant because she was married.[8][18]
Albany Peggy Ross[20]
Allentown Helen Noble[21]
Altoona Margaret Lillian Ross[20]
Asheville Rose Hildebrand[20]
Atlanta, Georgia Frances Thayer[20]
Baltimore Billie Muller[20]
Binghamton Bonita C. Bement[21] 19
Birmingham Louise Newman[20]
Boston Margaret L. Black[20]
Bridgeton Sarah Delp[20]
Brighton Beach Edithea Lois Wild[22] 15
Brooklyn Ethelda Kenvin[20] 24 Married baseball player,E.D. Barnes,in 1921[8]
Buffalo Irene Knight[20]
Burlington Hazel Gove[20]
Cambridge Doris Rowden George[23]
Camden Florence Nurock[23]
Cape May Mildred McCann[23]
Chicago Corrine Dellefield[23]
Cincinnati Olga Emrick[23] Later worked as astenographerand was active with the "Anti-Flirt Club"[24]
Cleveland Mary Jane Clark[23]
Columbus Genevieve Mambourg[23]
Coney Island Heather Eulalie Walker[14] Star of thelostmusical film,Hit the Deck,oppositeJack Oakie[25]
Cumberland Elizabeth Catherine Steele[26] 18
Detroit Beth Madson[23] Also competed inMiss America 1922pageant as Miss Detroit[27]
Easton Agnes Connelly[23]
Erie Dorothy Haupt[23] Also competed inMiss America 1922pageant as Miss Easton[28]
Fort Worth Bessie Laurene Roosa[29]
Hammonton Alice Kind[23]
Harrisburg Helen R. Knisely[30]
Jacksonville Alyce Phillips[21]
Johnstown Betty Grening[31]
Lakeland Mary Weaver[32]
Lebanon Grace Kohr[33]
Long Branch Elene Hicks[6] 19 Died of breast cancer in 1940 at age 38[6]
Louisville Juanita Hobbs[23]
Memphis Elizabeth Mallory[34]
Miami Katherine Kyle[35] Also known as "Katherine Newlon"[35]
Miss America 1921 C. Margaret Gorman[36] 18 Competed asMiss America 1921[36]
Miss America 1922 Mary Katherine Campbell[23] 16[9] Competed asMiss America 1922[23]
Only woman to win the national pageant twice[11]
New Bedford Mildred Salisbury[21]
New Haven Helen Haddock[23]
New Jersey Elizabeth McClure[37]
Alberta Dorothy Smith[37]
Elsie Banholzer[37]
New York City Peggy Verna Shevlin[23]
Niagara Falls Nelda Tell[23]
Norristown Mildred Maconachy[38]
Ocean City Grace Taylor[39]
Oklahoma City Mary Deen Overly[40]
Pensacola Katherine Floyd[41][42]
Philadelphia Marion Green[43]
Portland Winona Evelyn Drew[30]
Portland Patricia Smith[23]
Pottsville Isabel Lynch[21]
Providence Loretta La Flamme[21]
Reading Jane Ondeck[44]
Richmond Billie Gates[45]
Rochester Reta Cowles[46]
St. Louis Charlotte Nash[16] 17 Married millionaire and theatre magnate, Fred Nixon-Nirdlinger, twice[47][48]
Shot and killed Nixon-Nirdlinger in March 1931 inNice, France[47][49]
Wasacquittedafter successfully arguing act was in self-defense[50][51]
San Antonio Katherine Helmsley[23]
San Francisco Violet Regal[52]
Sunbury Mary Botto[30]
Syracuse Eileen Snyder[5]
Trenton Alma D. DeCone[23]
Tulsa Constance Crosby[53]
Vineland Mary E. Edwards[23]
Washington, D.C. Lorraine Bunch[23]
West Virginia Neva Jackson[54]
Wildwoody Eleanor Addis[23]
Wilmington Ruth Agnes Brady[45]

References

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  1. ^"Miss Columbus Again Captures Beauty Title". The Norwalk Hour. 1923-09-07. p. 16.
  2. ^"Ohio Girl Again is 'Miss America'".The Sandusky Register. 1923-09-08. p. 1.
  3. ^"Twice Honored As Miss America". The Sandusky Star Journal. 1923-09-08. p. 5.
  4. ^"Miss America History 1923".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-02-10.Retrieved2012-04-13.
  5. ^abcdCroyle, Johnathan (September 8, 2018)."Miss Syracuse charms at the 1923 Miss America Pageant".Syracuse.com.
  6. ^abcSchnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997)."There She Was – Miss Long Branch".Asbury Park Press.Asbury Park, New Jersey.p. 4 – viaNewspapers.com....talent contest that was established in 1935.
  7. ^abc"Columbus, O. Girl Again Wins Title of" Miss America "".The Pittsburgh Press.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.September 8, 1923. p. 5 – viaNewspapers.com.
  8. ^abcdefghij"Why They Want a Law Forbidding Beauty Contests".Detroit Free Press.Detroit, Michigan.November 11, 1923. Feature Section, p. 3 – viaNewspapers.com.
  9. ^abWatson, Elwood; Martin, Darcy (2004)."There She Is, Miss America": The Politics of Sex, Beauty, and Race in America's Most Famous Pageant(1 ed.).New York, New York:Springer Publishing.ISBN1403981825– via Google Books.
  10. ^"Attacks Bathing Review: Preacher Says Atlantic City Event Endangers Youthful Morals".The New York Times.New York, New York.September 11, 1923. p. 15.
  11. ^ab"Miss Columbus Again Captures Beauty Title". The Norwalk Hour. September 7, 1923. p. 16.
  12. ^"Miss Columbus Again Elected Beauty Queen".Wausau Daily Record-Herald.Wausau, Wisconsin.September 8, 1923. p. 1 – viaNewspapers.com.
  13. ^"1923 Miss America Pageant 1st Runner-Up Trophy - Brooklyn Kid Makes Good".Lelands.September 21, 2016.
  14. ^ab"Beauty Escapes Death; Miss Coney Island Arrives Too Late for Fatal Flight".The New York Times.New York, New York.September 9, 1923. p. 17 – viaNewspapers.com....who finished third in the international beauty tournament...
  15. ^ab"Columbus Girl Wins for Second Time Title of Miss America".The Boston Globe.Boston, Massachusetts.September 8, 1923. p. 2 – viaNewspapers.com....Miss Charlotte Nash of St Louis and Miss Marian Green of Philadelphia were the runners up, in the order named.
  16. ^abcdef"Miss St. Louis First in Atlantic City Beauty Trials".The Pittsburgh Post.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.September 6, 1923. p. 2.
  17. ^"Be Chosen In Beauty Show".The Lima News.Lima, Ohio.September 7, 1923. p. 1 – viaNewspaperarchive.com.
  18. ^abDunn, Geoffrey (August 24, 2011)."Arctic Venus: The first Miss Alaska".Anchorage Press.Anchorage, Alaska.
  19. ^"Miss Alaska Follows Trail of Ice, Water, Air, Rail to Beauty Camp".Daily News.New York, New York.September 3, 1922. p. 15 – viaNewspapers.com.
  20. ^abcdefghijk"Golden Apple Is Sought by Scores".The Allentown Morning Call.Allentown, Pennsylvania.September 6, 1923. p. 11 – viaNewspapers.com.
  21. ^abcdef"Half a Dozen America Beauties, Please".The Daily News.Frederick, Maryland.September 6, 1923. p. 11 – viaNewspaper.com.
  22. ^"Lois Wilde, Famous Model at 15, Still Loves Dolls, but Aspires to Be a Bernhardt".The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.Brooklyn, New York.December 10, 1922. p. 4 – viaNewspapers.com.
  23. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvw"Golden Apple Is Sought by Scores".The Allentown Morning Call.Allentown, Pennsylvania.September 6, 1923. p. 12 – viaNewspapers.com.
  24. ^Coe, Alexis (February 12, 2013)."Stop That Skirt-Chaser! The Movement to Outlaw Flirting in the 1920s".The Atlantic.Olga Emrick, a Cincinnati stenographer, shows how a jiu-jitsu twist
  25. ^"Hit the Deck – 1929".IMDb.
  26. ^"Elizabeth Catherine Steele Crowned" Miss Cumberland "".Cumberland Evening Times.Cumberland, Maryland.August 30, 1923. p. 1 – viaNewspaperarchive.com.
  27. ^"America's Prettiest Girls".The Evening News.Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.September 14, 1922. p. 22 – viaNewspapers.com.
  28. ^Arbuckle, Alex Q. (July 12, 2015)."1922:The first Miss America".Mashable.Gorman, far right, poses in swimwear, with Mary Dague as "Miss Wheeling," Dorothy Haupt as "Miss Easton,"...
  29. ^"Wins Beauty Contest".National Petroleum News.Vol. 15, no. 3. National Petroleum Publishing Company. September 5, 1923. p. 62 – via Google Books.
  30. ^abc"More Beauties".The Daily News.Frederick, Maryland.September 6, 1923. p. 11 – viaNewspapers.com.
  31. ^"Miss Johnstown Selected by Judges".The Pittsburgh Press.Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.September 1, 1923. p. 5 – viaNewspapers.com.
  32. ^Hetherington, M.F."History of Polk County Florida".Lakeland, Florida:The Record Company.Miss Mary Weaver represented Lakeland in the Beauty Pageant at Atlantic City in September, 1923.
  33. ^"Miss Grace Kohr Wins Right to Represent Lebanon in Shore Beauty Pageant Next Month".Evening Report.Lebanon, Pennsylvania.August 21, 1923. p. 1 – viaNewspapers.com.
  34. ^"Trade Conditions".The Jewelers' Circular.Vol. 88. April 23, 1924. p. 92 – via Google Books.Miss Elizabeth Mallory, Miss Memphis for 1923, pitched the first ball.
  35. ^ab"Miss Newlon Is to Represent City".Miami News-Metropolis.Miami, Florida.September 3, 1923. p. 23 – viaNewspapers.com.
  36. ^ab"Margaret Gorman Cahill, 90; First Miss America".Los Angeles Times.October 5, 1995.
  37. ^abc"Miss America 1923 Candidates".Miss America.2018-06-28.Retrieved2020-06-15.
  38. ^"Miss Norristown".The New York Times.New York, New York.September 2, 1923. p. 74 – viaNewspapers.com.
  39. ^"Grace Taylor Is Miss Ocean City".Cape May County Times.New York, New York.August 17, 1923. p. 1.
  40. ^"Beauty".Dixon Evening Telegraph.Dixon, Illinois.September 8, 1923. p. 5 – viaNewspapers.com.
  41. ^"illegible".Albert Lea Freeborn County Standard.Albert Lea, Minnesota.September 27, 1923. p. 3 – viaNewspaperArchive.com.Katherine Floyd...was entered as "Miss Pensacola" in the National Beauty Show at Atlantic City, NJ.
  42. ^"From the Sunny South".The Daily News.Frederick, Maryland.September 6, 1923. p. 11 – viaNewspapers.com.
  43. ^"Miss Philadelphia Leads the Parade".The Philadelphia Inquirer.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.September 7, 1923. p. 3 – viaNewspapers.com.
  44. ^"ineligible".Reading Times.Reading, Pennsylvania.October 4, 1923. p. 8 – viaNewspapers.com.Miss Jane Ondeck who represented Reading at the Atlantic City pageant...
  45. ^ab"Beauties".Olean Evening Times.Olean, New York.September 5, 1923. p. 13 – viaNewspapers.com.
  46. ^"Daily Graphic Review of News Events".Athens Messenger.Athens, Ohio.September 4, 1923. p. 7 – viaNewspaperArchive.com.
  47. ^ab"Beauty Contest Girl Held as Husband Shot to Death".The San Bernardino Daily Sun.San Bernardino, California.March 13, 1931. p. 1 – viaNewspapers.com.
  48. ^"Charlotte Nash".The St. Louis Star.St. Louis, Missouri.May 19, 1926. p. 3 – viaNewspapers.com.
  49. ^"Mrs. Nixon-Nirdlinger Goes on Trial Today".The New York Times.New York, New York.May 20, 1931. p. 13.
  50. ^"First Intimate Details of Her Romance With the Theatrical Magnate".The St. Louis Star.St. Louis, Missouri.July 7, 1931. p. 3 – viaNewspapers.com....acquitted in Nice, France of the murder of her husband.
  51. ^"Takes Jury Ten Minutes to Acquit US Beauty".The Central New Jersey Home News.New Brunswick, New Jersey.May 20, 1913.
  52. ^"Extra Attraction".The San Francisco Examiner.San Francisco, California.August 22, 1923. p. 11 – viaNewspapers.com.
  53. ^"Miss Tulsa in Chair".The Tulsa Tribune.10 September 1923. p. 1.Retrieved6 May2023.
  54. ^"West Virginia's Best".The Daily News.Frederick, Maryland.September 6, 1923. p. 11 – viaNewspapers.com.

Secondary sources

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  • Saulino Osborne, Angela (1995). "Miss Americas and their Courts".Miss America The Dream Lives On.Taylor Publishing Company.ISBN0-87833-110-7.
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